Saturday, March 11, 2017

This winter has been so LONG! So has my time between posts. Here's what's been going on...

Since New Year's, I've been working hard on reorganizing my work area, cleaning out things I don't love or will never sell and NOT buying anything new. We only had 2 sunny days in all of January and into February here in SE Michigan and the weather really got to me this year. I just wanted to stay in and I guess it brought out the 'nesting' instinct in me.

My 94-year-old great aunt moved into a full-nursing room from her 2-room assisted living apartment and my sister and I have been sorting through the 'leftovers'. My aunt was a minimalist long before it had a name or was cool, so she didn't have much, but still there was a lot to go through. It made me really mindful of how much stuff I have and how I need to get it whittled down before someone else has to.

Since I keep stock to sell, I can't exactly follow the 'if it doesn't bring you joy, get rid of it' plan, but I have modified it to work with an e-business. If I don't like something, I'm not going to sell it. No more selling a thing because I know other people like it and will buy it. That's left me with a lot of 'leftovers' of my own, which are all going to a local resale shop or are donated. It feels really good to get rid of things (See? I'm NOT a hoarder)

My new motto:

Some day, I'll post pictures of my newly-organized and streamlined work area...but that will have to wait until it actually IS organized and streamlined. Sigh...

Organization is fun (seriously, I love organizing things....weird, I know), but so is retail therapy. This week I finally got to go shopping. My friend Bargain Hunter had an unexpected day off of work -- thanks to high winds and power failure -- and we took a trip up to Bay City and Saginaw, where we hadn't shopped in years.

Does anyone else think this is creepy?

Sign in the bathroom in Bay City

Always one of my favorite booths

I still don't know why I didn't buy this phone!

I remember making hundreds of these daisies for an afghan

I have the square canisters, but had never seen round ones

On Friday, I made a last-minute trip to a family-run estate sale because there were some books there I've been searching for. I was too late for the books, but got some great Christmas and kitsch.

A complete set of Branchell melmac!

Then today, we went to the local Masonic Lodge's antique show fundraiser. Each year it gets a little bigger, with more dealers, so there was lots to see. Not many bargains to be had, though...it was mostly mall prices or even higher. It was fun to see some of the dealers from my old antique mall and great to get out in the cold (20 degrees) sunshine.

Bargain Hunter and I always talk about who the winner is (sadly, that means who spent the most money). I'm usually the winner because I buy not just for myself, but also to sell. Today, though she was the clear winner, having struck the mother lode of linens...until I saw these draperies! Four panels of red barkcloth wonderfulness in great condition...AND they go perfectly in my living room! I took the lead with those and 'won' by a landslide.

The panels go perfectly with the colors in the living room

This came home with me this week:

No shopping trip is complete without pennants!

I was super excited to see these pennants from my hometown, Cincinnati! I'm definitely keeping the zoo pennant and might keep Coney Island, too

The little elf pincushion and Fisher Price chick & basket will have to live here for a while, I think

Cool cowboy chenille throw!

Hope you're having a great weekend and that Spring is coming to where you live!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

In my Etsy shop remarks, I say that sometimes I feel like a matchmaker who gets an invitation to the wedding. It's the best feeling in the world to connect someone with an item they've been looking for or have a childhood memory of.

Last week I listed a signed photo I'd picked up of the Ted Herbert Orchestra from the swing era. If you're from New England, you may know Ted Herbert, but growing up in Ohio and living in the Midwest, I'd never heard of him. I did some research (one of my favorite parts of any listing) and learned that he'd been a band leader in New England for decades, taught at university in Manchester, New Hampshire and had well-known music store there, too.

The photo sold within one day. I just got the nicest review from the buyer, with this comment:

As a Manchester native who ended up as a music teacher, Ted Herbert and his music store hold a special place in my heart. This picture is so cool, great shape, I'm so excited to have found it! I absolutely love it!

Right after Christmas, I sold a Dillon's Grocery Store glass. I'd never heard of Dillon's (a big name in the Kansas City area) but learned all about it as I researched the glass. It, too, sold very quickly to someone who grew up in Kansas City and wanted a little bit of her childhood.

If you've read my blog for a while, you know I'm hooked on souvenirs -- especially pennants! I have over a hundred of them...some listed, many waiting to be listed and some I'll never part with. (If there's a pennant you're looking for, message me...there's a good chance that I have it!)

I sold a Mohawk Valley pennant not long ago and this is what I heard from the buyer:

I just wanted to let you know that the pennant is great, and the graphics are amazing. I live fairly close to the Mohawk Trail, and have even traveled on the illustrated "Hairpin Turn" in a snowstorm. Yesterday was a lousy day at work, and finding your package in my mailbox made it a little bit better.

About Me

I'm a born collector and lover of all things old & unusual. My passion to collect, create & repurpose has now spilled over into an Etsy shop and a booth at a local antiques mall. Finding treasures that haven't been loved in a long time is so much fun!